Welcome Erica Austin, 4-H Educator Metro

Erica Austin is a native of Sangamon County. She provides leadership to 4-H metro-programming in Sangamon County. Her youth development assignment includes leading positive youth development initiatives for after-school programs, community groups, 4-H community clubs and other youth-serving organizations - with special emphasis on youth in our local metropolitan area. Her areas of expertise include youth/adult partnerships, positive youth development principles, youth leadership, volunteer development, and work with adolescents. Erica's duties also include collaborating with a variety of organizations and programs within the community.

Erica attended Lincoln College in Lincoln, Illinois and received an Associates of Arts degree. She holds a Bachelor degree in Sociology from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa as well as a Master degree in Human Services specializing in child and family services from the University of Illinois in Springfield, Illinois.

Erica is a strong believer in the old proverb "it takes a village to raise a child", because we all are connected in this human race, and have a duty to hold each other accountable and ensure the responsible upbringing of our youth.

Superior Young Producer Awards/Scholarship

The 2012 Superior Young Producer Award contest is open to ANY 4-H member age 14-18 years old (as of 9/1/11) that is currently enrolled in Horse, Beef, Swine, Sheep or Dairy project areas. Participants do NOT have to be exhibiting animals at the IL State Fair in order to participate in the contests. The contests are scheduled to be held at the State Fairgrounds on the following dates: Horse—Thursday, July 26—6:00 pm; Beef—Wednesday, August 8—6:00 pm; Swine—Wednesday, August 8—6:00 pm; Sheep—Friday, August 10—4:00 pm; and Dairy—Saturday, August 18 – 8:30 am. The contests consist of three phases: Skill-a-thon, Management Test, and/or Judging or Meats Test. Each winner will receive a $1000 scholarship and a plaque (Five winners are selected from EACH specie). If you are interested in these contests and the chance at a $1000 scholarship, further information as well as a form which can be filled in and printed is available at the State Fair website (http://www.agr.state.il.us/isf/premium/index.html) Open Junior Livestock premium book and the Superior Young Producer info can be found on pages 43-45. OR stop in at the 4-H office for information and a registration form. Entries are required prior to the State Fair Junior Shows.

Calendar

July

1 State Fair Jr. Livestock Entries Due to Depart. of Agriculture

2 Registration Deadline for Foods Demonstrations

2 Dog Obedience/Showmanship – New Berlin

3 Clean up Menard Food Stand

4 Independence Day – Offices Closed

9 Dog Obedience/Showmanship – Mock Show, New Berlin

10 Deadline to sign-up for Scrambles

11 Shotgun at Lefthanders

11 Sangamon County 4-H Show Set-Up

12 Sangamon-Menard 4-H Clothing Show

12 Sangamon-Menard Food Demonstrations

13-15 Sangamon County 4-H Show

13 Sangamon-Menard Small Pets/Animal Science Show

14 Sangamon-Menard 4-H Dog Care, Obedience & Showmanship Show

15 Sangamon-Menard Family Fun Activities

15 Sangamon 4-H Livestock Auction

17-22 Menard County Fair and 4-H Show

18 Rifle at Lefthanders

23 Menard County Livestock Sale

24 Clean and close up Menard Food Stand

24-29 State Fair Junior Horse Show

August

1 Sangamon County 4-H Show Comment Meeting

2 Menard County 4-H Show Comment Meeting

6 4-H State Fair Foodstand Opens

8 Shotgun at Lefthanders

9 State 4-H Poultry Judging Contest

10 Club/Group Award Applications Due in Extension Office

8 Junior Rabbit Show

9 Junior Poultry Show

9 Performance Cow Judging

9 Junior Meat Goat Wether Judging

9-10 Junior Beef Heifer Show

9-19 Illinois State Fair

10 Junior Meat Goat Judging

10 Junior Sheep Wether Show

10 Junior Swine Barrow Show

10 Master Showmanship Contest

11 Welding Conference Judging @ State Fair

11 Junior Beef Steer Show

11 Junior Dairy Goat Show

11 Junior Wether judging

12 Junior Breeding Sheep Show

12 Junior Breeding Swine Show

13 Most Sangamon & Menard conference judging @ State Fair

14 Sale of Champions-Junior Show

15 Rifle at Lefthanders – Beginner

15-17 Junior Dairy Cattle Show

18 Junior Pygmy Goat Show

25 State 4-H Dog Obedience & Showmanship Show

Menard County 4-H Show Schedule

Saturday, June 16

10:00 a.m. 4-H Public Speaking Contest Sang. Co. Fairgrounds

Tuesday, July 3

6:00 p.m. Set-Up & Clean-Up for Show

Thursday, July 12

6:30 p.m. Clothing Judging – Springfield Office

Friday, July 13

7:00 p.m. Cats/Live Small Pets Show –Sang. Co. Fairgrounds, (New This Year-see details in Show Book)

Saturday, July 14

4:00 p.m. Dogs check-in for Dog Show –Sang. Co. Fairgrounds

4:30 p.m. Sangamon-Menard Dog Show

Sunday, July 15 Activities on this date are at the Sangamon Co. Fairgrounds

11:45 a.m. Aerospace Show check-in

12:00 Noon Aerospace Static judging followed by Rocket Launch

12:00 Noon Family Picnic - Pavilion

1:45 p.m. Scrambles Meeting – Show Pavilion

2:00 p.m. Tug of War weigh-in - Scales

2:30 p.m. Family Fun Activities

Tuesday, July 17

7:30 a.m. Goats must be in place

8:00 a.m. Weigh Goat Wethers (not Pygmy)

9:00 a.m. 4-H Goat Judging

4:00 p.m. Sheep must be on the grounds

5-6 p.m. Market Lambs will be weighed

6:00 p.m. Open Horse Show

Wednesday, July 18

7-9 a.m. 4-H general project check-in

7:30 a.m. Sheep Judging

9:15 a.m.-Noon General 4-H Project Judging

7-8:00 p.m. 4-H Market Poultry & Rabbit Weighing

Thursday, July 19

7:30-9:30 a.m. Swine Weighing

8:00 a.m. Rabbit Judging

8:00 a.m. Poultry Judging

6:30 p.m. 4-H Swine Judging

Friday, July 20

7:30 a.m. Jr. & Open Swine Judging

4:00 p.m. Beef Weighing

Saturday, July 21

8:00 a.m. 4-H Beef Judging, followed by Jr. & Open Beef Judging

Sunday, July 22

10:00 a.m. 4-H & Junior Horse Show

2:30 – 4:00 p.m. 4-H project checkout

Monday, July 23

11:30 a.m. Livestock Sale Buyer's Luncheon

12:30 p.m. 4-H Livestock Sale

Tuesday, July 24

8:30 a.m. Clean Food stand

Sangamon County 4-H Show Schedule

Wednesday, July 11

6:00 p.m. Set-Up & Clean-Up for Show

Thursday, July 12

6:30 p.m. Clothing Judging/Foods Demonstrations – Spfld. Extension Office

Friday, July 13

6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Swine Weighing

7:00 p.m. Small Pets/Animal Science Show, (New This Year-see details in Show Book)

Saturday, July 14

8:00 a.m. General Project Check-in

8:00 a.m. Swine Show – Show Ring

9:00 a.m. All "General Projects" must be in place

9:30 a.m. General Projects Judging

10:00 a.m. Llama Show – Show Ring

12:00 p.m. Rabbit Show – Pavilion

1:30 p.m. Goat show – Show Ring

2:00 p.m. Poultry Show - Pavilion

4:00 p.m. Beef Weigh-in

4:30 p.m. Dog Care & Obedience & Showmanship – Pavilion

5:30 p.m. Sheep Weighing

Sunday, July 15

8:00 a.m. Dairy, followed by Beef Show – Show Ring

11:00 a.m. Sheep show – Show Ring

11:45 a.m. Aerospace Show check-in

12:00 Noon Aerospace Static judging followed by Rocket Launch

12:00 Noon Family Picnic - Pavilion

1:00 p.m. Round Robin Showmanship

1:45 p.m. Scrambles Meeting – Show Pavilion

2:00 p.m. Tug of War weigh-in - Scales

2:30 p.m. Family Fun Activities

5:00 p.m.? Projects Released at the end of Family Fun

6:00 p.m. Buyer Reception – Timber Lodge

7:00 p.m. Livestock Sale – Show Ring

4-H Show Comment Meetings

A Sangamon County 4-H Show Comment Meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 1 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Office in Springfield.

A Menard County 4-H Show Comment Meeting will be held on Thursday, August 2, from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Extension Building in Petersburg.

This is the time to bring up changes or suggestions for next year's 4-H Shows and provide your comments. It would be helpful if you would put your suggestions on paper in writing to keep things straight and you may also speak about your suggestions/comments at this meeting. If you have a specific concern, please bring along valid solutions to the issue which concerns you if you plan to attend the meeting.

Scramble Information

Openings are still available in all scrambles. Each participant must secure an application blank from the 4-H office, have it signed by a parent or guardian, and submit it to the Extension Office by 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, July 10. No entries will be accepted after the deadline. Scrambles will take place on Sunday, July 15, as part of Family Fun Activities at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin.

· PIG SCRAMBLE — Contestants for the Jr. Scramble must be 8-13 years of age, and for the

Sr. Scramble 14-18 years of age, by July 1 of the current year, and must have been an exhibitor at this year's 4-H Show.

· CHICKEN SCRAMBLE — Any youth 5-7 years old by July 1st of current year, who is a potential

4-H member, may sign up. Sign up will be limited to the first 20 youth applying.

A complete set of rules and application forms are available on our website, or at the Extension Office.

2012 Changes for Sangamon 4-H General Show

Between 8:00-9:00 a.m., check in projects with the Superintendent (s) in the area(s) you are exhibiting in, and sign-in indicating conference judging or non-conference judging. Superintendents will give instructions for placement of exhibits in their area.

If you will not be present for conference judging, you are asked to write a paragraph and attach it to your project. Tell how you did your project, and what you learned from completing it. The judge has the option of reducing an exhibitor's rating by one level if the information is not included.

This year there will be a "Help" station in the general project building. One of the purposes of that station is to assist exhibitors with multiple projects, and exhibitors who are also exhibiting livestock, to get through the conference judging process in an efficient manner.

Every attempt will be made to make it possible for Livestock exhibitors to conference judge if they want to. Livestock exhibitors should check-in at the help station at their first opportunity after judging begins at 9:30 to get assistance being worked in for judging. Livestock exhibitors have the option of providing a cell number when they check their project in, that could be called to notify the member before the judge proceeds with non-conference judging their item if they have not shown up for judging.

Sangamon 4-H Show LATEST Move-In Times

July 13 – Friday

6:45 pm Cats/Small Pets/Animal Science Displays

7:00 pm Swine

July 14 - Saturday

8:45 am - All General Projects must be finished checking in by 9:00

9:30 am Lamas

9:00 am Goats

11:00 am Rabbits

11:45 am Aerospace

1:00 pm Poultry

4:00 pm Dog Care, Obedience & Showmanship

4:00 pm Beef Steers and Heifers

5:30 pm Sheep

July 15 – Sunday

7:30 am Dairy

All times listed are latest times. Permission for late arrival must have been requested in writing to the Extension Office before July 1.

Cat exhibitors are required to bring proof of vaccinations including rabies & distemper to check-in. Cats without this will not be allowed to show. Livestock exhibitors must also have any required paper work with them at check-in.

Sangamon County Conference Judging Schedule

PLEASE NOTE: ALL SEWING AND TEXTILES AND CLOTHING DECISIONS PROJECTS ARE JUDGED ON THURSDAY, JULY 12. CATS, SMALL PETS, AND ALL ANIMAL SCIENCE DISPLAYS ARE JUDGED ON FRIDAY, JULY 13. See the Show Schedule for times and locations for those projects.

Project areas listed below do conference judging on Saturday, July 14. Judging begins at 9:30 a.m. 20 judges will all be judging simultaneously. Some judges have more than one project area. Areas where a judge will be doing more than one project list the project they will start with and then it says followed by…The projects after the words followed by are listed in the order they will be judged.

All project categories listed below must be finished checking in by 9:00 a.m.

9:30 am Visual Arts:

• Chalk/Carbon/Pigment
• Clay
• Wood followed by Metal
• Computer Generated, followed by 3-D and Paper
• Heritage Arts, followed by Nature
• Glass/Plastic followed by Fiber

• 4-H Cooking 101 followed by Microwave Magic
• Outdoor Meals, followed by Candy Making and Cake Decorating
• 4-H Cooking 201, followed by 4-H Cooking 301 and 4-H Cooking 401

• Cloverbuds, followed by Child Care, Interior Design, Theater Arts,
• Consumer Savvy, Financial Champions, and Entrepreneurship.

• Health, followed by Leadership, Communications, Journalism, and Video

• Passport to the World, followed by Citizenship, and Walk In My Shoes

• Floriculture, followed by Vegetable Gardening, and Horticulture Display

• Photography I
• Photography II, followed by Photography III

• Woodworking I, followed by levels II, III, & IV

• Forestry, followed by Entomology, Geology, and Crops

• Wildlife, followed by Camping, Sportfishing, and Natural Resources

• Small Engines, followed by Tractors, Welding, and Electricity

• Computers, followed by Geospatial

11:00 am Bicycles

Horse Show Thank You

Thank you to everyone who played a part in making the 2012 Sangamon County 4-H Horse Show a success! Special thanks go out to Superintendent Crystal Seiber and her husband George Flack, horse committee members Dareea Paiva, Ashti Dawson, Robbin Nickelson, Cheryl Bozarth, Tricia Hemberger, Kristin Boster, Sharon Murray, and Sharon Haggerty for all of the time and hard work that they put into planning and carrying out the day's activities. Thanks go out, as well, to Judge Brenda Merriman and ring steward Ashton Clay. We would also like thank our food vendor, the ladies of the Illuminati Motorcycle Club, for providing our meals and drinks on show day. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of the committee members' families, competitors' families, friends of 4-H, and other attendees that volunteered their time, materials, and efforts in order to make the 2012 show a successful one. Last, but not least, we would like Terry Brown to know how much we enjoyed having our show at his beautiful facility. Due to the cooperation and hard work of everyone involved, the Sangamon County4-H Horse Show was one to be remembered!

State Fair Details

Sangamon-Menard's regional exhibit day at State Fair will be Monday, August 13th.

With the exception of Welding, Filmmaking/Video, and Geospatial projects that will exhibit on Saturday, August 11, all other Sangamon-Menard general projects that qualify for State Fair will exhibit on Monday, August 13. For this year's State Fair 4-H members may exhibit just ONE 4-H project regardless of whether it is a conference judged project or an action-oriented project. (Action-oriented exhibits including fashion revue and public speaking.)

2012 Illinois State Fair General project judging details

Tentatively 4-H judging will be held in 4 major locations on the fairgrounds. Judging schedules will be divided between morning and afternoon to accommodate project areas. Final locations will be identified in mid July.

Horticulture, Floriculture, Geology & Entomology – Emerson Building East Wing

Fashion Revue and Public Presentations – IL Bldg Theater

Natural Resources, Woodworking, Welding (1 day only), Forestry, Small Engines, Wildlife, & Tractor – 4-H Tents (MOVED to old Happy Hollow area)

All Other Exhibits (including Illustrated Speech Public Presentations) – Expo Bldg Mezzanine

Due to the space changes, Foods Demonstration and Club/Group Action Presentation classes will NOT be offered at the 2012 State Fair.

CHANGE FOR 2012!!

Premium checks will ONLY BE AWARDED to those exhibitors who receive a SUPERIOR RIBBON OR a BEST IN ACTION ribbon. Conference-judged exhibitors will receive an Award of Excellence rosette ribbon. Exhibits must remain on display until the posted release time or whenever judging is completed, whichever is later. Action-oriented Exhibitors will receive an Award of Excellence rosette. Superior award ribbons and premiums will be awarded at the judge's discretion. The top 5% of each action-oriented class will receive Best in Action ribbons (and premiums).

Exhibitors and projects will still need to check-in for judging schedules at designated times (to be determined) on our county assigned day (Monday, August 13th). You will either exhibit in the morning (8—noon) or the afternoon (1—3:30/4 pm) Once judging is completed (Superiors chosen), the exhibits will be released at noon for morning judged projects and at 3:30/4 pm for afternoon judged projects.

State Fair Ticket Info

Reduced price parking and admission tickets are available to 4-H families if ordered and paid for by July 6 at the Extension Office. Parking passes will be $4.00. Reduced price admission tickets (good any day of State Fair) are $4.00 for those 13 years and older (gate price is $7) and $1.00 for ages 5-12 (gate price is $3). If you are interested in ordering State Fair tickets, fill in an order form—available on our website at the Sangamon & Menard County 4-H page. Click on the words "printable forms" and you will see the form listed or at the 4-H Office by July 5th.

Illinois 4-H State Fair Online

WHO: Open to any 4-H member 10 or older as of 9/1/2011

WHAT: Share what you have learned about your enrolled 4-H project through a video or map exhibit online. All exhibitors will be recognized at 4-H Family Event at State Fair on August 11th.

WHEN: Register to participate and post your exhibit online by Aug 1st. Winners announced Aug 11th in conjunction with 4-H Family Event on state fairgrounds.

ELIGIBILITY: "My 4-H Project" Video and Map exhibits do not require a county selection and may be submitted in addition to any state fair eligible exhibits. Visit http://web.extension.illinois.edu/state4h/events/statefaironline.cfm for further details.

The Extension Office has a FLIP Video Camera that can be borrowed to assist 4-H members in producing a "My 4-H Project" video. Contact Amy (arebb2@illinois.edu or 782-8953) at the 4-H Office if you would like more details on use of the camera.

Group Award Opportunities

4-H clubs are invited to compete for County and State Club Recognition by completing the "Illinois 4-H Club/Group Report" form. The award application documents the club's activities in one of the following curriculum areas as listed in the 2011-2012 Illinois Clover: Agriculture; Community Involvement and Global Understanding; Environment and Natural Resources; Food, Nutrition & Health; Home & Family; Engineering & Technology; and Personal Development.

Club leaders can get copies of the award application from the Extension Office, or off of the web at http://web.extension.uiuc.edu/state4h/volunteers/support_recognition.cfm. This form was revised 5/2007, so please don't use a form older than that. Contact the office for additional information. Applications are due to the Extension Office by August 10.

4-H Records/Award Information

Award applications are due to the Extension Office September 3. Late applications will not be judged. Your 4-H Club Leader's signature is required, so make sure you make arrangements to have that done before the due date. Award Application forms, tips, and a sample of a completed application are available on our website at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/sangamon4h/3173.html , or from the Extension Office.

4-H Leaders will receive their club award nomination packets by the end of July, and they will also be due to the Extension Office by September 3.

Following is a list of the categories in which members can apply for awards, and a listing of the 4-H projects within those award areas.

· ·Achievement—includes all 4-H projects, leadership, & community involvement over the course of the 4-H member's "career" in the 4-H program

· ·Animal Science—Includes beef, cat, dairy, dog, goat, horse & pony, poultry, rabbit, sheep, small pets, swine, veterinary science

· Community Involvement & Global Awareness—includes citizenship, intercultural, service learning

· Dairy—includes dairy cows & heifers, and dairy goats. This award area is ONLY used for selection for members to attend National 4-H Dairy Conference.

· Engineering & Technology—Includes aerospace, bicycle, computer science, electricity, geospatial (GIS/GPS), robotics, safety, small engines, tractor, welding, woodworking

· Environment & Natural Resources—includes camping & outdoor living, entomology, forestry, geology, natural resources, sportfishing, wildlife

· Food, Nutrition & Health—includes all Foods & Nutrition projects, Health

· Home & Family—includes child development, intergenerational, clothing & textiles, consumer education, entrepreneurship, interior design

· Personal Development—Includes communication (public presentations, newswriting), photography, leadership, visual arts, theater arts

· Plants & Soils—includes plant & soil science, crops, horticulture, floriculture

EACH AWARD CATEGORY REQUIRES ITS OWN STORY FOR 4-H RECORDS!!

Anyone who would like assistance in filling in their 4-H record forms for Achievement recognition should contact Sharon at the 4-H office to set up an appointment. Assistance will be happily given to anyone! Please call 632-7491 to set up an appointment or e-mail Sharon at slounsbe@illinois.edu .

Menard County 4-H Food Stand

4-H Food Stand Paint Crew

The Menard County 4-H Food Stand, located on the Menard County Fairgrounds in Petersburg, recently received a face-lift! The West Menarder's Ag 4-H Club adopted the food stand as a community service project, and took on the task of power washing, priming and painting the exterior of the building. Pictured are some of the volunteers that assisted with the project. Thank you to everyone that pitched in to help!

The 4-H Food Stand will be open for breakfast and lunch July 18-22. Come on out and see us!

4-H Family Picnic Registration Deadline

All 4-H families are invited to participating in a family picnic hosted by the 4-H Foundation, on Sunday, July 15, at Noon. It will be held at the Sangamon County Fairgrounds in New Berlin, prior to the scheduled Family Fun Activities. Hot dogs, chips and drinks will be provided for those who register by July 9. Registration can be done online at http://web.extension.illinois.edu/lms/, or by calling 782-4617

If families want to come and bring a picnic lunch of their own, they can do so without pre-registering.